 "Polish Dances. A collection of the most favorite polonaises", cover (1890) | |
| Native name | Polonez, chodzony |
|---|---|
| Genre | Traditional dance |
| Time signature | 3/4 |
| Origin | Poland |
| Polonaise, traditional Polish dance | |
|---|---|
| Country | Poland |
| Reference | 01982 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
| Inscription history | |
| Inscription | 2023 (18th session) |
| List | Representative |
The polonaise (/pɒləˈnɛz/, French: [pɔlɔnɛz]; Polish: polonez, Polish pronunciation: [pɔˈlɔnɛs]) is a dance originating in Poland, and one of the five Polish national dances in 3
4 time.[2] Its name is French for "Polish" adjective feminine/"Polish woman"/"girl". The original Polish-language name of the dance is chodzony (pronounced [xɔˈd͡zɔnɨ]), denoting a walking dance. It is one of the finest dances representing Poland's cultural dance tradition. The polonaise dance influenced European ballrooms, folk music and European classical music.
The polonaise has a rhythm quite close to that of the Swedish semiquaver or sixteenth-note polska, and the two dances share a common origin. Polska dance was introduced to Sweden during the period of the Vasa dynasty and the Polish–Swedish union.
The polonaise is a very popular dance uninterruptedly danced in Poland till today. It is the opening dance in all major official balls and events, at New Year's balls, on national days as well as various less official parties. The polonaise is always the first dance at a studniówka ("student ball"), the Polish equivalent of the senior prom that occurs approximately 100 days before exams, hence its name "studniówka" or literally in Polish "the ball of the hundred days".
In 2023, the dance was included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Lists being recognized as "a form of joint celebration", which "commemorates important moments in family and community life and symbolizes cooperation, reconciliation and equality."[3][4]
- ^ Blatter, Alfred (2007). Revisiting music theory: a guide to the practice, p.28. ISBN 0-415-97440-2.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Randelwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Polonaise, traditional Polish dance". ich.unesco.org. Retrieved 6 December 2023.
- ^ Blanka Konopka (4 December 2023). "At last! After nearly three years Poland's most recognizable dances to be added to UNESCO's coveted list of Intangible Cultural Heritage". thefirstnews.com. Retrieved 6 December 2023.